Daniil Medvedev defends Almaty Open title in comeback victory over rejuvenated Basilashvilli

Daniil Medvedev has been in eye-catching form as of late. After a first set scare, he managed to claw his way back to successfully defend the Almaty Open title in a 6-7(6), 6-1, 6-3 win over qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvilli.

Following a disappointing North American hardcourt swing where wins were not coming as common as he was hoping for, Medvedev has moved up the gears. The Russian triumphed at the Hangzhou Open before semi-finals in the China Open and Shanghai Masters were very positive results - although the caveat in Beijing that he was defaulted, meaning any ranking points and prize money were voided.

The former US Open champion travelled to Kazakhstan as the No.1 seed with a ton of matches and, most crucially, momentum under his belt. Wins over Sho Shimabukuro and Terence Atmane set up a semi-final clash against home favourite Alexader Bublik. Fireworks would not occur after the Kazakh retired through injury after the first set, and Medvedev would take on Basilashvilli in the final.

The Georgian and former Indian Wells finalist was starting to find his feet on court once more, with a first ATP final being contested since the Qatar Open back in 2022. After missing two set points, Medvedev forced a tiebreak before spurning one of his own. Basilashvilli seized the initiative but would win just four games from this point.

Medvedev took control of the match and did not let it go from his tight grasp. 23 minutes it took for him to get back level with a brace of three-game bursts. An early break in the third set propelled him closer to more silverware, and he got it done against the serve to win a 46th ATP title, a second in Kazakhstan and a fourth in 2026.

Medvedev has been a key figure in the Race to the ATP Finals. While he has failed to make it past the fourth round in any major event, a final run at Indian Wells with semi-finals in Rome and Shanghai at Masters 1000 level along with a string of title triumphs have got him in the mix.

Not a perfect season by any means, but it is a huge step in the right direction after a miserable 2025. He has changed much of his team and taken a new approach that seems to be working well. That has showed with a fine Asian swing, minus the China Open debacle.

He failed to qualify for the ATP Finals in 2025. The first time since 2018 and halting a six-year streak where he featured. The 2020 champion was determined to get his name back among the elite, and it is looking more and more likely that he will make the trip to Turin.

Now on 3,660 points, he surpassed the Roland Garros finalist Flavio Cobolli into fifth and is around 800 points ahead of Alex de Minaur in 10th. With Jannik Sinner missing out through injury, there is a bit more breathing space for the challengers to work with, and Medvedev is utilising that well.

It does not stop for the Russian. As soon as he finishes his brief celebrations in Almaty, he is on the plane to the Austrian capital as he looks to win the Vienna Open title once more. A champion in 2022, he has not reached the final since 2023, but is most certainly one of the favourites to succeed ahead of the Paris Masters and ATP Finals.